SXSW Conference On TweetGrid

The South By South West conference is happening right now. The world of Twitter is all abuzz about the announcements being made at the conference. Many of them are about Facebook, new ways to use it and how iPhone apps can now have friends. To see a live feed of Twitter remarks, click here.

Fixing an iPhone Safari Crash

Last night my iPhone's Safari application crashed. All I had was a grey screen of death each time I opened it. It was an easy fix. I thought I'd share it for anybody else who may be ready to break their iPhone in half over this issue.

My apologies to a fellow blogger who has these steps posted on his site. I don't remember which blog I got this information from, but I'm very thankful for his help.

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1. Open Settings then scroll down to Safari and click it

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2. Scroll down and click the buttons marked Clear Cache, Clear Cookies and Clear History

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3. Hold down the power button on the top of the iPhone and the round button at the bottom until it shuts off (even after the "Slide to power off" screen appears)

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4. Restart your iPhone, try your browser, then kiss it if it works and promise never to fight like that again

Saving Facebook Videos To Your Computer

Yesterday I recorded some videos onto Facebook walls of a few friends. Later, I wanted to post the videos on my other blog. I was surprised to see that they don't make it possible.

Here's what I came up with that worked perfectly:

1. Start using Mozilla Firefox's free web browser if you're not already (at least for the sake of taking videos off of Facebook)

2. Open Mozilla Firefox, click Tools, then click Add-ons


3. Click the "Get Add-ons" button at the top of the pop-up window then type "unplug" in the search field and hit enter

If you don't see "Unplug" as an option, click "See all results"

4. Click the button labeled Add To Firefox and then allow Firefox to restart (restart it manually if it doesn't do it automatically)


5. When Firefox restarts, notice the cute fish next at the top of your browser window next to the Google search field. This will be very important.


6. Go to Facebook and play the video you want to save or post somewhere else.

7. While the video is playing, click the fish at the top right side of your screen.


8. If you click the fish while the video is playing, you'll notice that a page will appear with a list of videos available. It will put the one that's playing at the top of the list.


9. Right click on the link to the file and hit Save As to save it to your computer. You may want to rename the file as you do this so it will be easier to find.


10. I found that my blog would not accept the file so I uploaded it to YouTube. If you don't have an account already, you can follow their easy instructions to create one. It also has easy-to-follow instructions to upload your video. Be patient once you upload the video. It will take a few minutes for it to be ready and to create a cover image for the video. You can click the edit link to edit the details of the video. If you don't like the picture they use, you will see 3 pictures you can choose from. Click the picture you like then hit save. It will take several minutes for the newly selected image to appear.

11. Since I use Wordpress.com for my other blog, I just copied and pasted the link to the video into the insert video screen in my blogpost and Wordpress inserted it into my blog for me.

This is one of the videos I successfully ripped out of Facebook's death grip:

Road Trip Last Weekend

I took a short road trip last weekend. I went up to San Louis Obispo to visit a former student and friend who attends Cal Poly. We ate at the world's best BBQ place; Firestone Grill. Then we saw Gran Torino. It was my 2nd time to see it. The acting was horrible (except for Clint Eastwood). However, the story more than makes up for it. I highly recommend seeing it.

The next morning I went up to see my college roommate and his family in Melo Park. I hadn't seen them since their wedding. It was so great to be back with old friends and share stories from college days and catch up to how life is now.

The following day I went back to Cal Poly for guys' night. Dinner and Batman Begins after some Texas Hold 'Em and The Office board game. Good times and a lot of junk food.

As important to the trip as the stops was the drive time between the stops. The weather was beautiful and the scenery was amazing. I also love the hours where the only interaction I have is with my thoughts. I get great ideas when my mind is left to wander.

Making great memories, catching up with old friends and creative thinking - three great reasons I need to get out of town more often.

Loving God

My mind has been wrestling with my love for God the past couple of days. I believe God exists and I know that I love him. I'd like to think I'd give my life if it was a choice between standing up for him or saving myself.

However, lately I've been stuck trying to comprehend my love or the passion of my love for God. I would say that although my love exists for God, I don't feel much passion about it. Some would say that's a good thing. Love for God shouldn't be tied to emotion or feelings. To some extent that's true. However, passion is important. I can't imagine a husband being encouraged by his wife's love if it didn't have any passion behind it. Since we are the church, and the church is the bride of Christ, I would think there needs to be some passion behind it.

I absolutely love my car. I have a 2002 Toyota 4Runner. It's kind of my mid-life crisis car. It's the first vehicle I bought that's actually what I wanted. All others were based on what I could buy with what I could scrape together at the time. When I bought my 4Runner, though, I went for a used one because I liked the old body style better, wanted the upgrades and saved $11,000 over buying a new one. Every month I love making my car payment. It sounds silly, but I get excited to make it because I know that payment is going toward something that I love passionately.

I should have at least that much passion for my Creator. Since God is the source of love, I know where to get that kind of passion. Scripture says whatever I ask in Jesus' name he'll give me and won't resent my asking. I'm on a mission to find it. My guess is that most Christians in America also need to take on this mission. As my pastor says, we're only known for what we're against. If we find the passionate love for God that he wants us to have, I know that will change because our lives and actions will change.

I've got a to-do list for 2009. Practical steps for becoming a better person and being more productive. I'm sure none of that will matter and some of it will not be possible or beneficial without God's love passionately showing through. I'll be just another resounding gong or clanging cymbal.

Here's to the mission.

Great iPhone App for Toddlers

One of my Bible study students downloaded a sound effects application to his iPhone. I thought it was clever so I put it on my iPhone, but rarely use it. The other night I used it. My 2-year old niece came around the corner all excited to see where that noise was coming from. She has spent about 20 minutes hitting the different sounds. If you have a kid or are around one, download this free app to keep 'em occupied. Just be sure you hold onto the iPhone so it doesn't wind up in the toilet or some other place toddlers tend to put things.

Writer's Symposium - Donald Miller

Because I'm reading one of his books, I've grown curious to learn more about Donald Miller. To my surprise, I found a 1-hour video of him participating in a writer's symposium at my alma mater, Point Loma Nazarene University.

In this video, Miller reads a portion of his book To Own A Dragon then is interviewed by my former writing professor, Dean Nelson. While watching this interview, I felt like I got to know the author. However, as a writer myself, I also learned some valuable perspective on the mechanics of his writing... which it turns out includes a little superstition and finding a lucky coffee shop.

Here's a link to the You Tube video. It's worth a little bit of your time. There's a lot of humor, wisdom and genius involved. You'll have spent your time well and had a good laugh in the process.

Click Here to see the video.

Blue Like Jazz

I've read 7 chapters in Blue Like Jazz so far. I find myself many times thinking, "Finally somebody else is writing what goes through my head from time to time." I'm not crazy after all.

This book pushes the image of being a Christian aside and gets at the reality of the Christian life: ups, downs, grace and self-reliance. It takes the impossible (being a Christian by will-power) and exchanges it for the impossible (God creating the only way to reconciliation between us and Himself).

I still have several chapters to go. I don't re-read many books. I have a feeling this one will get traveled through several times before I get wheeled into the mortuary.

Tools of the Trade: Using the Coffee House as an Office

I got this tip from another blogger. I can't remember who, but it's a great idea.

Since I spend so much time using the local coffee house as an office, I went out today and bought two important tools of the trade (see the picture above).

1. A 3-plug outlet extender. If the outlet is all take up, you can unplug a person's laptop and plug it back into the outlet extender and then have room for your own, too.
2. An outlet converter. If the outlet is a 2-prong outlet, you'll want an outlet converter to be able to plug your 3-prong cord into it.

Here's to endless hours @ the coffee house and unlimited free WiFi!

Blue Like Jazz favorite quote

I've started reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. It's a great book about his journey of faith. We have a connection in that are a year apart in age and both grew up in the Houston area and had deadbeat dads. I feel like we've gone down the same road both in life circumstances and spiritually. I'm only on chapter 3, so that may change the further I get into this book.

I love his writing style as much as his content. As my friend Doug Fields would say, "This guy really knows how to turn a phrase." His style is as brilliant as his message.

So far, my favorite quote from this book is, "I believe the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time. That us why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If be can sink a man's mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging God."

Helpful Gmail Gadget Called Gmail Notifier

I discovered Gmail Notifier today while searching for a way to get my computer to play a sound when I get a new e-mail in my Gmail account. I like this little program they made just for that purpose. It also has another nice feature. See below for what I like and don't like about what this little gem can do.

Here are the two things I like about it:

1. It alerts me with a sound and a message in the lower right side of the screen when I have a new email in my Gmail account. This is something I've wanted for a long time.
2. I can set it so that when I click on a link to send an e-mail it opens a new Gmail e-mail instead of trying to open Outlook or Outlook Express (which I don't use anymore).

What it lacks:

1. It only checks for new e-mail once every two minutes. While I can still see if I have new e-mail if my Gmail is open in a tab, I'd prefer for the gadget to play a sound instantaneously when I get a new e-mail. But then again, it's free so I really can't complain.

Click here to download Gmail Notifier

Saving Money on Electronics

Word has it Circuit City is about to go under. They're already closing some stores. They, however, have saved me a lot of money over the last few years on electronics.

I've bought a couple of big ticket items from them because I know they have a 110% price match guarantee. I know I can usually find the item cheaper someplace else. When I do, I take the advertisement to them and get a lower price than I would have if I bought the item at the sale price at the other store.

Last week I bought a sweet new laptop at Circuit City for $729.00. This week it was advertised on the front page of Office Max's circular for $569.00. After taxes, I got a refund from Circuit City for 110% of the difference which came to $189.64. I was so happy. I knew I'd find the laptop cheaper, but didn't expect to find it that much cheaper.

I used some of my refund to purchase a TV tuner card and can now enjoy and record TV on my new computer. By the way... still looking for a better deal on the TV tuner. Wish me luck!

Free Airline Tickets by Getting Bumped

This is a follow-up to a blog post I wrote the other day. It was about getting my flight to Paris, France and Dusseldorf, Germany for under $200. I used airline vouchers I got for getting bumped off of flights.

Today I did a search on Google to see if there is a list of commonly overbooked flights. I found this article with tips on getting bumped and extra perks you may be able to get as a result. There is also a link to a page about flights that may be overbooked.

Click here to read the article.

Happy travels!

Dennis

After Thanksgiving Day Sales

Here's a link to sales that will happen after Thanksgiving. What's funny is that some of them have already started. Many of the stores will even be open on Thanksgiving day! Crazy!!! Click here to go to the web page.

OC Register Article About My Niece's Foster Mom

The OC Register ran an article about my niece's foster mom. I thought this was pretty cool. They put a blurb about the article on the front page of the November 25th edition about the article. They also dedicated a lot of copy space in the Life section to the article.

Click here to see the article.

Here's an excerpt:

A foster mom takes a big next step
TRUE LIFE: Lauri Burns grew up in struggle. She's launching a nonprofit to help the toughest, loneliest kids.
By LAURI BURNS
Special to the Register
Comments 0 | Recommend 1

I was born in New York and grew up in a middle class Jewish home in Long Island. Although my family looked normal on the outside, there was abuse from as far back as I could remember. My understanding of God as a small child was that he was punishing me for something I did in a past life.

Germany and France for under $200

This story starts with an Alaskan cruise with friends in August of 2006. I met my friends in Seattle the night before the cruise departed and stayed a couple of days in Seattle after the cruise was over. Because I'm my own boss, I wasn't in a hurry going or coming. When the Delta agents asked for volunteers to get bumped off the flight, I jumped at the change... a total of 3 times at $400 each.

I've used most of the money already. Now I'm at the point of having a little over $500 in flight vouchers that will expire if I don't use them. Today I booked a flight to see friends in Germany. I only had to cough up $200 for the difference between the voucher amount and the cost of the flight plus trip insurance. I figured why not spend $40 on trip insurance since the trip itself was so cheap.

I chose a flight that has a 5-hour layover in Paris. I've never been there so I decided to stretch my legs by seeing what I could in that small amount of time. While selecting my seats on the flight, I noticed that all of the seats from Paris to Germany were taken. I'm hoping that means I'll get bumped off that flight and have some money toward a future flight.

I paid $1200 for the cruise, got $1200 in flight vouchers by getting bumped. The greed setting in has me wondering how many times I can get bumped on this next trip. Who knows, maybe I'll get to go to Australia next. Either way, I'm happy with what I have. It's made a great story. Thanks Delta for overbooking your flights!

Halloween Fun

Last night I pulled up next to this guy at a stoplight. I've never seen anybody decorate their car like this for Halloween. He had jack-o-lantern lights and a fog machine blowing on top of his car and Halloween music playing. Super crazy and cool.



My mom saw this costume idea in a magazine and wanted to use it this year. This was my project for yesterday. Pretty clever idea. It's a sandwich board she'll wear. Both sides are the same. She can change the prices on the sign throughout the night.

Trophy Case

From time to time I get great letters or comments from students about how they've been impacted by my ministry or how they are doing ministry to others. I've decided to make a trophy case of these on my volunteer youth ministry blog. My hope is that these will be a source of encouragement not only to me, but new youth workers, discouraged volunteers, or anybody anxiously wondering if ministry will ever become natural, fulfilling, or rewarding.

These trophies are for your encouragement as much as they are for me. I hope you'll save your trophies, too, as they come in (and they will if you commit to last).

There's one trophy there now with more on the way... Click Here

Finding A Good Coffee House To Use As An Office

I frequently find myself in coffee houses around town filling time between appointments. That's where I'm at now. Killing time before my 5:30 appointment. Walking from my car to the front door, I started going through a checklist of things I needed to consider before making my purchase. I've discovered there's some things need to check before committing myself to any location. Here it is. Maybe somebody else can benefit from it.

1. Check for free WiFi (Wireless Internet). Most coffee houses have this posted on the window next to the door. I haven't tested this, but I understand if you register a Starbuck's giftcard online, they offer free WiFi. I prefer It's a Grind and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf because you get free WiFi without having to jump through hoops. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and Peet's Coffee are also great. At Peet's Coffee, just ask the cashier for an Internet code. At The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, look for the number on the logo on the TV screen to get the code.

2. Check for outlets. I hate ordering my drink then trying to find a table next to a power outlet to plug my laptop into. For a lot of people this won't be an issue. However, my laptop battery lasts about 2 nanoseconds on a good day. I typically will find a table and set up my laptop before ordering.

3. Look for distractions. I've learned to pay attention to the surroundings when I walk through the door. Is the music too loud or unusual? Is there a parent trying to homeschool two unruly children? (that was the case yesterday) Are the employees having an in depth conversation about stuff you'd rather not know? When I don't look for what can be a distraction, I sometimes get comfy and start working then realize I can't get anything done because of the atmosphere.

I hope this helps my fellow coffee-shop-as-an-office users out there. Bottom's up!

Bonus: If you go to It's A Grind, sometimes you should skip the coffee and opt for a warmed up chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk. Ohhh... it's so incredibly good! They're super rich so you won't want to do it very often, but they're worth every calorie... and I'm kind of a health nut.

Volunteer Youth Ministry

I put two new posts on my blog for volunteer youth workers today.

Cutting Up My Lesson Plans - click here

This is a creative approach I take a couple of times a year to get the students more invested in their time at small group.

Using My Graduates - click here

This is a post about the incredible resource that graduates from my ministry each year. I've decided not to let the miles that separate us during the school year rob my students of what they have to offer.